Mom’s First Solo
Have you ever wanted to try something a little crazy?
My moment came on a trail. We were barefoot and even though my shoes were strapped to my hip belt, they started to get annoying. I told Derek to keep going with the girls while I dropped my pack to rearrange things to cram in my shoes. They got a good distance ahead of me and I could no longer hear them. Something about walking barefoot, grounding on moss beside a stream, alone…I don’t know, it triggered something peaceful in me.
We talked about it when we got home. I wanted to try to do an overnight solo hike. I wanted to sit in silence, walk in my own thoughts, sleep in stillness, be alone. Derek was incredibly supportive to the idea and that’s all I needed to hear before the research began.
I ended up lucking out and buying a used pack, sleep pad, tent, and a couple of other odds and ends from a girl scout leader who was raising money. The pack fit me like a glove and after that was confirmed the excitement really started building. We decided on a place, Virgin Falls, and planned to do a dry run as a family that very weekend.
The practice hike was a blast. We climbed up and down boulders, came across a few cable crossings, and found our way to the waterfall where I would be camping within 7 days. We looked at my options for water (there were none, drought season, yay). We went over ideal placements for my tent too which helped ease my mind so much. I had the knowledge, gear, and now confidence. It was time.
The hike itself was great. I have learned that with 100% certainty. I like walking in the woods alone. I like stopping to take photos of little mushrooms and I like going my pace. Turns out, even with 34% of my body weight on my back, without my children, I do walk at about a 4 miles per hour pace. I’m fast and a little in my head but that’s okay. Me getting there so quickly helped give me the adrenaline to deal with my next issue. There was a man set up in my campsite.
At Virgin Falls you reserve an actual campsite. There’s a fire ring and a clear spot. We thought this kind of setup would be perfect for my first time as all of the pressure of decision making would be off of me. The tent can only fit in so many spots and the fire ring is there for a reason. But now nothing was in the right spot because a man was there with all of his gear. After some hesitation on my part where I went to the waterfall and gave him some space just in case he was there the night before and was having a slow start to leaving. Yeah, not the case. We did start talking and he thought he had a reservation but wasn’t sure if it went through. He has no problem leaving which I am thankful for and we shared stories on gear and his time on the AT. After he leaves, it’s time for me to sit in silence again. Only it wasn’t too silent as there was a large family with a healthy love of Jason Aldean two campsites away. This will become the reason why I chose to skip out on regulated campsites for my second solo. It’s much easier to just walk until you are tired and set up where no one else exists. But I did not have that option at the time. They’re respectful to the polite rules of quiet time and all went well.
I learned a lot. I learned:
Squirrels are loud when you are in the woods alone at 1 am. So are the imaginary bears that you think you see.
Bag Meals are not it for me. I need to just cook something.
I love hiking. I love camping. I do not know how to camp alone as I get very bored very fast.
I can set up a tent and a kitchen and a bear bag and everything by myself. This was powerful to learn.
Reading and journaling come so naturally when in nature. Everything is tranquil and conductive for creative thought there.
I drink a lot more water than I thought and cooking requires even more.
“Camp coffee the morning after you wake up alone by a waterfall” is only surpassed by “first person awake on Christmas morning coffee”.
I needed an axe. And more rope. And more books to read.
The next overnight had to be a longer hike to eat up the dead time.
I can’t meditate worth a damn.
On the way out the next morning after coffee and breakfast, I felt so happy. I was proud of myself and of my family for not getting worried and coming out to get me. When I saw my car in the parking lot, I was ready to cry I was so proud of myself. I do not understand how anyone could do a massive thru hike and not cry when they were done. I did one night and almost lost it! I couldn’t wait to get service to call Derek and tell him that I did it. My solo was therapeutic and I am not kidding at all when I say that I started researching new places to adventure to when I got home.
I ended up doing a second solo last month. It was a different experience as it was very cold, far from home, and with just an overnight permit, no campsite booked. I encountered a real bear, not a chunky squirrel. This hike was also much longer, nearly 15 miles round trip. And now, to end this rambling post, I want to share what I posted in our Hiking Marathon club’s Facebook. I feel it’s only right to include this and my love for that group because without them, none of this would have really been possible.
My Hiking Marathon Post:
“This post has very little to do with the hiking marathon and everything to do with this group, these trails, this adventure, and the confidence it has given me.
We started the hiking marathon in 2018 with 2 small kids who had already spent a lot of time on various trails, including small sections of the AT before they were even double digits. After this first marathon, we learned that there were endless hiking opportunities just outside our door and began to actively seek the close and fun adventures. Since then, we've added two more kids to our family and have hiked 100s if not 1000s of miles in this county.
The trails have done a lot for our family, but so much more for me.
This weekend, I went out on my first solo overnight hike. I hiked Virgin Falls, camped, and hiked myself out. Before you all get on to me about safety, I want you to know I've spent dozens upon dozens of hours preparing myself outside of our regular long distance hikes every week. My husband, you all have probably met him, is a veteran and an eagle scout and there is no way in the world he'd let me go out into the woods with no cell reception without running every single scenario and making me practice the same things on repeat again and again!
In short, I want to thank you all and the very foundation of this group for helping me find a confidence and passion I did not know I possessed. I look forward to many more Marathons and the adventures they seem to inspire! Next week for example, the oldest two, Derek, and myself, are hiking Leconte! None of this would have been in our horizon without you all. Much love, happy hiking, and we'll see you out there.”
